The toughest stretch comes after those first two home games. In a one-month span, Rutgers faces the Big Ten’s top five teams from last winter---including Michigan State, Wisconsin and Michigan squads that advanced to the NCAA Tournament’s Elite Eight---plus NIT champion Minnesota. The 10-game gauntlet will pit the Scarlet Knights against foes with a combined record of 201-125, or a .618 winning percentage.

Times and television arrangements for the Big Ten contests will be announced at a later date.

“This is a very challenging schedule, but it's a challenge we definitely look forward to,” Rutgers coach Eddie Jordan said. “Bringing Big Ten programs into the RAC is not only exciting for Rutgers, it's significant for Northeast basketball. On the road, we will play in some of the nation's premier collegiate environments.”

Rutgers also announced its entire schedule Thursday. As previously reported, the Scarlet Knights’ non-conference slate includes visits to Clemson (Dec. 1), Seton Hall (Dec. 6) and Monmouth (Dec. 28), plus two quality games in the Barclays Classic---Vanderbilt (Nov. 28) and either Virginia or La Salle (Nov. 29).

Privately, Rutgers has to be thrilled with this schedule. The Scarlet Knights have a legitimate chance to start out 2-0 in the Big Ten. They get all the glamour programs at home (Indiana, Michigan, Michigan State, Wisconsin and Ohio State). Their five home-and-homes include just one juggernaut. That doesn’t mean they’re going to post a winning record in conference---that is the longest of long shots---but the slate could have been much worse.

That said, from November to March this could be the strongest schedule Rutgers has ever played.